Big Stitch Knit Rug
Our Big Stitch Knit Rug is scrumptious like a heavenly soft cloud and beautiful like a white-pebbled Sardinian beach. Sinking your feet into its cozy stitches is such a wonderful feeling you’ll want it first thing in the morning and last thing at night!
With its farm-fresh natural fibers and jumbo sized stitches, the Big Stitch Knit Rug embraces homey rusticity with modern panache. A super easy slip stitch pattern gives it its lofty squishiness and fantastic nubbly texture.
Like its circular cousin, the Big Stitch Crocheted Rug, this knit version is made out of Bag Smith’s Big Stitch Alpaca. It seems to say, “Make me into a gorgeous rug!”. Seventy percent alpaca reinforced by a touch of wool and nylon, this yarn is ready to withstand rigorous duty with dignity and beauty!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoBigStitchKnitRug. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 skeins of Bag Smith’s Big Stitch Alpaca Yarn (70% alpaca, 15% wool, 15% nylon). Each skein is 140 yards, approximately 280 yards required. This color is Cream.
- A US 36 (19/20 mm), 32 inch circular needle
Gauge
1¼ stitches = 1 inch in stitch pattern
Finished Dimensions
34 inches wide x 41 inches long
Notes
Slip 1: Slip 1 purlwise, with yarn in back.
Pattern
Cast on 41 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Wrong Side (WR): Knit
Right Side (RS): *K1, slip 1, repeat from * to last stitch, K1
Repeat previous 2 rows until piece measures about 41 inches or until desired length, ending with a WS row.
Bind off loosely and weave in your ends.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Is this yarn washable, either machine or by hand? Thanks.
Denny Shaw
Absolutely gorgeous. I'd love to make one but definitely can't spend $124/skein of yarn. Any recommendations for a substitute?
Oh it's beautiful but that yarn is (eek!) costly. Any replacement ideas for the budget-conscious?
Is this a good rug for the bathroom, that is, will the knitted yarn take a damp foot or two on it without matting down? Washable?
Love this!
Hi,
I was wondering what other kinds of
yarn could be used. A least expensive
one. Thank you, Rhonda
Hi Kmbold and Denny-
This yarn is not machine washable. It is handwashable, but it would take a while to dry.
Unfortunately Kmbold it wouldn't be a great bathroom rug for this reason.
Thank you both for your questions!
Molly
To everyone asking for a less expensive option:
You can use Magnum doubled to get the same gauge. You will need double the yardage so for this project you would need 5 skeins of Magnum total. Here is a link:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/650-Cascade-Yarns-Magnum
Thank you all for writing in!
Molly
Is this for sale?? I must know the cost and how I can purchase!
thank YOU molly!
really lovely. Thank you for this!
Hi Kim-
This isn't for sale, we just sell the materials to make it. If you'd like to find someone to knit it for you please feel free to call our NYC store at 212-420-8796 and they might be able to refer you to a custom knitter.
Thank you for your question!
Molly
This looks so scrumptious!!!
I'm wondering where I could find the knitting needles required to make it! I've been looking around and nobody has such big circular needles in stock…
Hi Raymonde-
We sell the needles and yarn used in this and every project featured on The Purl Bee. They are linked under the “Materials” section.
You can find the needles here:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8476-Skacel-Addi-Big-Stitch-Circular-Needles
Thank you for your question.
Molly
So are the needles required for this project the size 50 or the size 30?
Hi Strickschneckli-
They are a US size 36 in a 32-inch length. They are listed in the materials section of this pattern and can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8476-Skacel-Addi-Big-Stitch-Circular-Needles
Thank you for your question!
Molly
I love this so much. I am a bigger knitter. Would this be a good project for a beginner?
Thank you for posting this. It is beautiful!!
Sorry just figured out the answer to my question. Thanks anyway and great blog. I love it 😉
Will you be getting more of this gorgeous yarn? Such an amazing project!
Hi Nancy-
We will be getting more yarn in stock. Please drop us an email at customerservice AT purlsoho DOT com if you'd like to us to let you know when it arrives.
Thank you!
Molly
This is perfect. I'm coming close to my end of limit when it comes to stepping out of bed and onto our cold, hard-wood floors. That wool is pricy BUT I do alwasy try to treat myself with one “on I'd never” item with my tax return….
Could you recommend a chunky cotton yarn to make this. I would love to make a bathmat.
Thanks!
Hi Amy-
We don't carry any cotton this heavy but you might want to experiment with doubling or tripling out favorite cotton yarn. Blue Sky Cotton, and using a smaller needle. Here's a link to the yarn:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/721-Blue-Sky-Worsted-Cotton
Thank you for your question!
Molly
Oh! I love the idea of using the pattern with a tripled cotton so it could be a bath mat (I'd probably still wash it on a delicate cycle or by hand though.) Great pattern and could be really versatile! Someday when my ship comes in, I'm splurging on that alpaca!
I would love to make this and use it in my bedroom. What can I attach to the back of it to keep the rug from slip-sliding around?
Thanks.
I am interested in knitting this rug out of the magnun yarn, Is it posible to get samples of the yarns? I' trying to cordinate with a trim color.
I'm thinking about using Lion Brand Wool -ease Thick and Quick doubled for this beautiful rug. Another idea I found on Ravelry- crochet 3 strands of worsted weight yarn into a long chain, then use the chain to knit the rug! A much less expensive option.
This is absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait to try this pattern.
Molly,
I'd love to be added to your list of custom knitters. Please let me know how to go about this. Many thanks!
Hi Jeanne. Great question! You don't want to go sliding across the room. I would place a standard Rug Gripper or Non-slip Rug Pad under it. -Laura
Olbiddle, Unfortunately we do not send out samples of our yarn. If you buy a certain color and it is not right, you can exchange it or return it for store credit. Let us know how it turns out! -Laura
Sherly, Was that comment for our Molly, Molly at Purl? What list would you like to be added to? Let me know and I can see if I can help. (Molly is on maternity leave at the moment.) Thanks. -Laura
Tha pattern calls for a size 36 needle 36″ long, but the links given in the responses to other questions go to size 50 needles 36″ long. I have heard of size 35 needles, that are approximately 3/4 inch in diameter, but never size 36 needles. What is correct?
I want to knit a big one of these and just lie on it all day long. Yummy!
Will this gorgeous rug shed and / or pill ?
Thanks, Aviva
Hi Aviva. Great question! This yarn does shed / pill a bit. After some use it settles down though. Thanks for asking! -Laura
Hi Knitting Nana. Thank you so much for your comment. All of the different sizes of the Big Stitch Circular Needles should be listed there, it looks like at the moment we only have US #50 in stock. I will find out when the US # 36 are due in and comment again as soon as I know. Thank you again for this comment. Hope this helps clarify. -Laura
Will you be getting in new stock of the alpaca yarn? Thanks.
Hi Kitty,
If you'd like to be added to the list to be notified about the yarn when it comes in please send an email to our customer service department at the link below, and include in it the name of the yarn and the color. They can also let you know how soon we will expect the yarn to arrive.
-Laura
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/contact
What is the finished size of the rug? thank you (Tack!!)
Hi Edith. The finished dimensions are 34 inches by 41 inches. -Laura
I knit this using Magnum doubled and love it. I hand washed it and blocked it to straighten the edges but they do tend to wobble a bit. I'm telling myself that it adds to the homemade, organic look! 🙂 Oh- and my dog thinks it was made just for her. I swear I heard her sigh as she sunk down into it this morning.
I would love to know if anybody tried the washable yarns mentioned in earlier comments: doubled/tripled Blue Sky Cotton or Lion Brand Wool -ease Thick and Quick doubled. Were you happy with the results? I posted a picture of my rug on my facebook page an hour ago and three friends have already asked my to make them one for Christmas. I don't mind hand washing but I don't want to force my friends to do this.
Could this also be knit with Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky held double? My LYS doesnt seem to carry Magnum 🙁 Thanks in advance!
Could this also be knit with Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky held double? My LYS doesnt seem to carry Magnum 🙁 Thanks in advance!
Hi Olivia-
You could use the Blue Sky for this but please keep in mind that you will need 560 yards total and the Blue Sky is very short so you would need to buy 13 skeins.
If you'd like to purchase the Magnum from us you can do so here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/650-Cascade-Yarns-Magnum
Thank you for your question and please let us know if we can help with anything else.
Best-
Molly
this is beautiful. could this rug be doubled in size easily?
HI Lucyna-
Sure, you would just need to cast on double the stitches. Please keep in mind that if you cast on double the stitches and knit it double as long you will need to quadruple the amount of yarn so you'd need 8 skiens. But you can really make it any size you like- it's totally up to you!
Thank you!
Molly
Molly, I'm confused about the yardage. The pattern states two skeins of 140 yds for the 34×41 dimensions. Yet in the comments there are two statements referring to 560 yards (for an optional yard) and 8 skeins (to double the size). I'm probably losing my mind….but, could you clarify? Thanks in advance!
Hi Renee-
I can see how it would be confusing!
You would need 560 yards of an alternate yarn like Magnum or Blue Sky Bulky Alpaca because you would need to double the yarn, thus you'd need double the yardage.
To double the size of the rug, for a finished size of 68 X 82-inches, you would actually need 4X the yarn- thus 8 skeins (or “bumps”) of the original yarn. This is always a tricky concept for me but I find it helpful to draw it out: You can fit four 34 X 41-inch rugs into an area that is 68 X 82-inches.
Please let us know if you have any more questions!
Best-
Molly
could a madeline tosh chunky doubled be used? that fiber is machine washable on delicate…love the fiber that you made it in but i do need it to be washable with puppy dog feet potentially walking on it! other yarns i'm thinking of that may help add some more texture personality…cascade yarns superwash 128, malabrigo chunky merino, sweetgeorgia superwash chunky…any tips would be great!
Hi Ali-
Doubled Madeline Tosh Chunky would still be too thin. Unfortunately we don't know of a washable wool that would work for this but you could certainly try tripling or quadrupling any of the ones you mention in order to get the correct gauge.
With that said, most knit and woven wool rugs are not machine washable but rather get cared for by vacuuming, beating, and spot cleaning.
Thank you for your question!
Molly
I'd like to make a 10X12 version of this. Would the magnum work and how much would I need? Would it be more cost effective to buy the rug already made?
Thanks,
So, is this actually knitted in the round or flat? I know, silly question, since it calls for circular needles but since it's a rug I figured it would be knitted flat.
Hi Kristen-
This is knit flat. The circular needles are used in this pattern just as you would use straight needles. The cable that connects the needles is used to hold the substantial width of the piece.
Thanks so much for getting in touch!
Molly
Love your work
I’m using a much cheaper yarn and I have tripled it. Still costing in the $30 range and should be washable….keep you posted!
Mary Lee, what kind of yarn did you use?
Hi Mary Lee,
What kind of yarn did you use? Thanks!
What yarn are you using . Big stitch retails for about $160. I made a throw. Could be a rug too using Two big stitch with some hand spun. I was ably to get it on sale.. But I want to know what yarn you used that cost $30
Love the pattern. Can’t wait to start.
What type of yarn did you use and how did it turn out?
I’m a little confused about the sl 1. Won’t that decrease the rug? Could you please elaborate a bit more about this part of the pattern?
Thank you
Teri
Hi Teri,
The slip 1 in the stitch pattern isn’t a decrease. It’s as simple as transferring the stitch from right needle to the left needle without knitting it. The slip stitch will look elongated compared to the stitches next to it. I hope this helps!
Sophia
How do you keep the rug from slipping? Just a regular rug pad? Thank you.
Hi Michelle-
Yes, a regular rug pad will work fine!
Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
is there another yarn that you would recommend for this pattern?
you don’t seem to sale the listed on any longer.
Thanks.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your question! Unfortunately we don’t carry the Big Stitch Alpaca yarn anymore. We have replaced it with Cascade’s Magnum holding 2 strands together. You can look at our color selection of the Magnum here; https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/650-Cascade-Yarns-Magnum
Please don’t hesitate to write back if you have more questions. Happy Knitting!
Jake
If you’re using Cascade’s “Magnum” with two strands, would you use the same size needle or a smaller size? Even two strands seems a bit smaller than the Big Stitch yarn. And the recommended needle size for the Magnum is 15-17. So maybe a 20-30?
Hi Alan,
Thank you for the comment. Yes you will use the same size needle -US 36- for the Cascade Magnum yarn held double. We do this in our Eleventh Hour blanket project which you can view here; https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2011/11/30/whits-knits-eleventh-hour-blanket/
Feel free to write back if you have anymore questions!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
How many skeins of the Magnum would you recommend for the rug?
Hello Jess,
Since each skein of the Big Stitch Bumps had 140 yards in it and because you need to use two strands of the Cascade Magnum yarn, you will need a total of 280 yards. You will need 2 full skeins and only a bit of a third. You can find our selection of colors here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/650-Cascade-Yarns-Magnum
Best of luck! -Alyson
Hi Jake – to make the above rug with Cascade yard (using 2 strands) how many skeins would I need??? Is it washable and does it wear as well as the original yarn mentioned? Thanks.
Hello Lori!
You would need a total of 3 skeins of Magnum to complete a rug that is the same size as our sample. Neither the Magnum or the original yarn used is machine washable. I would recommend spot cleaning or washing by hand and laying flat to dry. Both yarns are natural fibers, so they will pill a little bit. Try using a sweater comb to take off the pill balls, we sell them here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/960-Collins-D-Fuzz-Its
Best of luck! -Alyson
I am using Knit Picks new Tuff Puff and it’s gorgeous! Thanks for the fabulous pattern.
We’re so glad you are enjoying the pattern! Best of luck, Michelle! Thanks for writing in.
-Alyson
Are there any crochet patterns for this project using thick yarn?
Hey Nancy,
Thank you for the comment! Yes we do have a crochet rug pattern that uses this yarn. You can view that pattern here; https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2011/09/29/big-stitch-crocheted-alpaca-rugs/
Feel free to write us back with anymore questions!
Happy Crocheting!
Jake
I would like to make this larger- 4’X6′ (48″X60″ How many stitches would I need to cast on? I will bet using the Cascade Magnum and doubling. How many skeins will I need?
Hi Anne-
If you are getting the same gauge (stitches per inch) you should cast on 58 stitches. I estimate that you will need 10 skeins of the Magnum.
Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
What would be the number of skeons and would i need to double and size needle using lion brand thick & quick?
Hello Diane,
This yarn would be about the same size if you double stranded it, so you wouldn’t need to change the cast on number or the size needles of the pattern! You should definitely make a little swatch to double check!
Since there are 140 yards in the original yarn used for this pattern, you will need a total of 280 yards. Thick and Quick has 87 yards, so you’ll need 4 skeins of it.
Best of luck and happy knitting! -Alyson
Hi,
Was wondering if you have any yarn recommendations since you no longer have the cascade magnum or the one in the post above. What other yarns would you suggest which would be usable for this project? Would the gentle giant work? Would really appreciate it! 🙂
Hi Tina,
Thanks for writing in! We do still carry Cascade Magnum but not the yarn this rug was originally knit from. I see that some of our older links to Magnum are broken. Here is the updated link: https://www.purlsoho.com/yarn/knitting-crochet/magnum.html
I would recommend using either Cascade Magnum held doubled or Blue Sky Bulky held doubled.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Do you think it would work to make four of these — two each in complimentary colors — and stitching them together to create a larger rug? If so, what method would you recommend to piece them together? Thanks.
Hi Cammie,
Great idea! You certainly can knit 4 rugs and attach them to one another. Luckily we have a tutorial for seaming garter stitch and I think the technique would work well to attach the 4 rugs to one another.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
love at first sight.
thanks–excited to start!
Hi Pat,
Thank you so much for your kind words! Let us know how it turns out!
Best,
Cassy
Hello! I am looking into either the Cascade Yarns Magnum or the Blue Sky Bulky. Does this project require 280 yards? Want to make sure I order enough as they come in varying lengths. Thank you!!
Would love to see more bulky rug patterns in the future!
Hi Sara,
Thanks for writing in! The original yarn used for this fun rug had roughly 130 yards per skein and called for 2 skeins. I like the idea of using magnum or bulky as a replacement. Please note that the Big Stitch Alpaca had 130 per 3 pounds or right around 11 yards per 4 ounces or 100 grams. Magnum comes in at roughly 49 yards per 100 grams and Bulky comes in at roughly 45 yards per 100 grams. To get a similar thickness to the original yarn, you will need to use multiple strands. I would think at least 3 strands of each knit together.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Thank you for shaing your pattern. It is just what I was looking for.
I would like to know who has made this rug using a different yarn and how did it come out
Hi, on the S1, is the yarn in the back or front of the work? I am excited to do this project!
Hello Tera,
Thank you for reaching out! For all of your slip stitches in this pattern you will be slipping 1 purlwise with yarn in back.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello, I’m bummed that you no longer carry Bag Smith’s Big Stitch Alpaca Yarn and I see the company has closed.
Can you recommend a substitute yarn?
Thanks,
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we don’t carry any yarns quite like Big Stitch Alpaca Yarn at this time – it was quite a unique weight and construction! To get the correct gauge you could use our Gentle Giant held double, but I’m afraid it would be a bit too delicate to hold up well as a rug. Blue Sky Worsted Cotton would be a much sturdier option, although even held double it won’t be as thick as the original yarn, so you will have to knit a gauge swatch to determine what size needle to use and how many stitches to cast on.
I hope that helps and happy knitting!
Julianna
I just finished the Big Stitch rug, except for weaving in ends. Just to be sure before I begin, please confirm for me that the slip stitch side is the right side and the garter stitch side is the wrong side. Thank you, Cynthia
To clarify my question above about right and wrong side: the right side I have marked looks like garter stitch; the other side has a longer stitch on the upper or “frown” row. That wrong side does not look as compact and dense. Wish I could see your photo better, but the knubby yarn makes it difficult to discern. Thanks again for your help, Cynthia
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for writing in! It sounds like you might have marked the wrong side of the rug as the right side. The right side should be the row that you worked the slipped stitches on, and it has a slightly different texture from regular garter stitch with some enlarged bumps in the garter ridges. The wrong side looks very similar to regular garter stitch.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I made a rug similar to this out of Alpaca bump. I love the rug, but it sheds worse than my cat! I am contemplating felting it, but afraid I may ruin it. I was thinking of taking it out on the deck and doing the stomp alternating soapy hot and cold water, but it’s October and I might not have a nice day.
Alternatively, I have newer washer that uses less water with no agitator. I contemplate throwing it in the washer with hot wash and cold rinse. Has anyone tried this?
Hi, I know this is rlated to an older project posting, but I wonder do you have a pattern for a crocheted rectangular rug, similar size to the knit version?
Thank You.
Hi Renee,
Thanks for writing in. We do have a correlating crochet rug design (Big Stitch Crocheted Alpaca Rugs), but unfortunately, it’s circular and not rectangular! However, I think you could easily make this rug rectangular instead. The circular version only uses single crochet stitches, so you could modify it by working these stitches back and forth, instead of in the round!
All the best,
Lili
Would mixing Gentle Giant Iceberg Blue with Nighttime Blue or Lapis Blue work for this rug? Or is it best to stick with doubling one color? I also considered Winter Bark with a blue, like Periwinkle. Is mixing a heather with a solid okay? All the latter except the Lapis are currently out of stock.
The other duos I thought of are Woolly Wool in Juniper Berry with Green Agave or Winter Green.
Would Wool be better, as stronger, than Merino? The Merino choice is more “nobbly,” so perhaps more interesting for a rug and more like the original suggestion.
The bedroom fabric cloud shades have a light aqua background and multi-color flowers, including some bright, clear blues.
Thank you. It’s so cold this winter!
Hi Judy,
That’s a great idea to use two strands of either Gentle Giant or Woolly Wool to make this rug! Either yarn will work very well, and they’re both quite strong fibers. The choice to either use 2 colors or double 1 color depends on the overall look you’re aiming for! If you use 2 colors, you’ll end up with a marled effect, which I think would look very fun. But it’s completely up to your preference for the rug!
If you choose to use two colors for this project, I’d actually recommend choosing two colors from the same color family. For example, I think that Woolly Wool in Green Agave + Winter Green would be a great combo, as well as Woolly Wool in Ice Pond and Juniper Berry. I hope this helps you in planning this project!
All the best,
Lili
Hi-
Would your newest yarn, Pouf, be a good choice to use for this rug?
Thanks!
Hi Tracey,
That would be so fun! Pouf is still a lot thinner than the yarn used for this design, but you could hold it double (or even triple!) to get closer to the thickness!
All the best,
Lili